French football was left stunned on Tuesday evening by the bombshell news that seven-time French champions Lyon have been relegated from Ligue 1.
The French giants have been demoted to Ligue 2 after failing to convince authorities they have resolved their financial difficulties.
Lyon were hit with a provisional relegation back in November after racking up massive debts, and although they have since sold a number of first-team players, French football watchdog the DNCG upheld the relegation following meetings on Tuesday.
They have since confirmed they will appeal the verdict, branding it an 'incomprehensible decision'. It means it could still be overturned but if the relegation is upheld, Lyon would be replaced in the top flight by Reims, who lost the relegation play-off to Metz.
It will have a huge effect on football throughout Europe, with Lyon finishing sixth in Ligue 1 last season and looking set to compete in next season's Europa League.
Lyon, of course, played [Manchester United](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/manchester-united-fc) in a memorable Europa League quarter-final last season but they will forfeit the right to compete in the competition next season if the appeal is upheld.
It will have a catastrophic effect on their playing squad, too, with clubs now monitoring their best players in case they are relegated from the French top flight.
United could be one of those clubs prepared to pounce and it could present them with a unique opportunity to solve a big transfer problem for a cut-price fee.
It is no secret United are in the market for a new centre-forward. They courted Liam Delap before his move to Chelsea was confirmed and Ruben Amorim is desperate to improve a blunt United attack that managed just 44 Premier League goals last term.
Georges Mikautadze announced himself to during last summer's European Championship in Germany while playing for Georgia.
In his country's first major tournament, Mikautadze scored in all three group games and has translated that form to club level this term.
The 24-year-old scored 17 goals in all competitions last season - which is the same number as Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee managed combined - and added a further 11 assists.
Mikautadze plays mainly as a centre-forward but can also play as a 10 or on the wing, giving him the versatility that United CEO Omar Berrada has said the club are looking for with any new recruits.
He still has three years remaining on his contract with Lyon but should their relegation to Ligue 2 be confirmed it will likely spark a mass exodus of their top talent.
United could do a lot worse than using their plight to their advantage when it comes to their forward search.